Hanging up the stop-watch after 50 years – Cammie Spence

Friday 12th July 2024

IGerry Gallacher sent us this tribute as a Scottish coaching legend hangs up his stopwatch after half a century . . .

The man, the myth, the legend Cameron Spence has retired from coaching . . . after a marathon effort of 50 years.

Cammie Spence volunteered throughout the years coaching runners of all abilities and ages from a wide variety of clubs.

Cammie, always a well-known face in Inverclyde, could be found in all weathers encouraging athletes at Battery Park, Greenock.

He was there every Saturday morning for 52 weeks of the year. And has been doing so for half a century.

The free voluntary coaching he gave to his athletes was above and beyond what is expected of a volunteer. He did not ask for any money and just wanted to see his runners get better.

When the weather was very bad in the rain, snow, ice – or even sunshine – Cammie would be there encouraging the runners to go faster.

Over decades, his training has made numerous athletes very successful and encouraged many others to continue training even when they wanted to give up and quit athletics all together.

The benefits were even more noticeable during the Covid lockdown periods as Cammie would regularly keep in contact with athletes via email and provide them training plans and give guidance. Cammie always answered his athlete’s emails even when he went on holiday.

The only reason he has never been nominated for any award is because he is a quiet and modest person even although he has been involved in organising the Renfrewshire Road Races and Highland Games.

But he did so much for the sport and was a genuine asset to the athletics community.

Cammie’s dedication to athletics and improving athletes was always a huge part of his life and this is due to him being a successful runner in his younger years.